The lasting image from that game saw Gillies standing at the doors as he was being sent off continuing to taunt and berate Tangradi. Those actions were followed up by a nine game suspension. Upon Gillies return from that he delivered a head shot to Cal Clutterbuck of the Minnesota Wild, a shot that earned Gillies a ten game ban.

After all of that and the negative PR associated with it, the Islanders and GM Garth Snow are giving Gillies another shot. New York re-signed Gillies to a one-year, two way contract that will see him either grow up and learn how to play physically the right way in the NHL or see him (most likely) stashed away in the AHL where he’ll wait his chance to make his mark on the NHL again.

The money isn’t known on Gillies’ deal but he made just $500,000 last season, the league minimum, when he was in the NHL. Gillies’ role in the NHL is to be intimidating and to be physical, but his reputation is now etched in stone as a guy who will deliver a dirty hit or a questionable hit to try and help his team.

Of course, our definitions of “help” may be different in how we see it and the Islanders see it. All eyes will be on him when he does suit up for the Islanders and any even slightly eyebrow-raising hit he delivers will be scrutinized. Let’s just hope that Gillies has learned from all the nonsense he unleashed last year and that the Islanders have a better idea of what they’re dealing with.

What a joke, there are plenty of guys who play physical without crossing the line. The Isles had a chance to clean up their reputation and they chose not to, now its up to Gillies to see if has cleaned up his act.

There are also many players that fit the following mold – gritty, annoying with some value (i.e. talent) that you hate unless they are on your team. These would be Raffi Torres, Matt Cooke, Sean Avery, etc. This clown, however, doesn’t even come close to this category. No one wants him on their team, and he has zero value (i.e. next to no real talent). The only thing he has in common with the above group is fans of the other teams hate him.

(Oh, and lose the Fu Manchu mustache – it doesn’t make you look intimidating – it makes you look like you are auditioning for the village people!)

dutchman1350 - Jun 18, 2011 at 7:16 AM

NHL needs to change the rules. Suspensions should mean lost roster spot. Shorter benches will force teams to try and control their players.